Local theater lineups this fall beckon with musicals and original plays

Left to right: Jon Berry, as Orin Scrivello, Caitlin Becka, as Audrey, Kenneth Rosander, as Seymour, Steve Rassin, as Mr. Mushnik, Chandler Davis, as Ronnette, Annie Marsh, as Crystal, and Olivia James, as Chiffon, in the upcoming production of "Little Shop of Horrors," Opera House Theatre Co.'s final musical in its 2013 summer season.

Published: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 11:39 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 11:39 a.m.

During the summer, theater in Wilmington is notoriously low on volume, with Opera House Theatre's Co.'s season of musicals at Thalian Hall and a few scattered plays providing almost all of the entries on the schedule.

Things heat up when the weather cools down, with more than twice as many productions hitting the stage. And while the musical will, as usual, reign supreme this fall, there are a surprising number (five) of original plays opening.

Highlights? Well, City Stage is bringing back two gender-bending rock musicals, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and "The Rocky Horror Show," plus the company is teaming up with True 2 You Productions for Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'." Tony winner Hal Holbrook will bring his acclaimed portrayal of Mark Twain to Thalian Hall for its main attractions series, and Big Dawg Productions will fire up the Wilmington debut of "The Vibrator Play."

For a full rundown of what's coming, read on.

August

'Little Shop of Horrors' – Aug. 28-Sept. 8 at Thalian Hall

Wilmington is Venus' flytrap country, so this musical comedy (based on the Roger Corman B-movie) about a lowly flower shop employee who breeds a man-eating plant could be our Official Town Show. Some great tunes in this one, including doo-wop opener "Skid Row," the sadistically funny "Dentist Song" and the delicate, lovely "Somewhere That's Green." 632-2285 or ThalianHall.org

September

'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' – Sept. 5-22 at City Stage

Rescheduled from this summer, when the gender-bending cult rock musical was postponed because the company had trouble casting the title role. City Stage last did "Hedwig" in 2004. Don Baker will direct, and the role of Hedwig will be played by Leo Grinberg. 264-2602 or CityStageNC.com

'Chat Room' – Sept. 5-15 at Browncoat Pub & Theatre

Wilmington actor and playwright Ron Hasson premieres his second original play of the year after the dramatic comedy "One Up" ran to good reviews in June. The computer-based comedy "Chat Room" is directed by local theater vet Robb Mann. A poster for the show containing the line "Who's doing the dirty work?" promises lots of behind-the-screen intrigue. 341-0001 BrowncoatTheatre.com

'The Bard's Broads' – Sept. 6-28 at TheatreNOW

In this original dinner theater comedy by Anthony Lawson, we find Will Shakespeare in his favorite public house amongst the "ladies" who may be the inspirations for his leading ladies. The menu by chef Denise Gordon is very Medieval Times – Cornish game hen, "sliced joint of beef," etc. 399-3669 or TheatreWilmington.com

'Tartuffe' – Sept. 19-Oct. 6 at Cape Fear Playhouse

Big Dawg Productions takes on Molière's classic farce about a charlatan who nearly pulls off a colossal scam under the guise of religion. 367-5237 or BigDawgProductions.org

'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' – Sept. 26-Oct. 6 at Thalian Hall

In a nice bit of casting, Adam Poole stars as the corporate-ladder-climbing J. Pierrepont Finch in Frank Loesser's musical comedy that skewers the culture of big business. Presented by the Thalian Association. 632-2285 or ThalianHall.org

UNCW theater professor Ed Wagenseller, who won best director of a play at January's Wilmington Theater Awards for helming "Six Degrees ofSeparation," leads an all-student cast through this Texas-sized comedy by Del Shores. Billed as "a black comedy about white trash," its events are set in motion by the death of a Christian woman whose demise comes from hitting her head after tripping over her lover's prosthetic legs in a motel room. 962-2061 or UNCW.edu/thr

It's shaping up to be a busy month for Anthony Lawson. The Browncoat will produce his play, which has been adapted from the satirical Mark Twain short story. It'll be the second time this year for "Adam and Eve," which got the dinner theater treatment at TheatreNOW in January. 341-0001 or BrowncoatTheatre.com

October

'The 39 Steps' – Oct. 4-13 at the Amuzu Theater

Downtown Southport's historic Amuzu Theater feels like the perfect place for this one. Billed as a "farce of the classic Alfred Hitchcock spy thriller," which itself was based on the 1915 novel by John Buchanan, Brunswick Little Theatre's production features four actors playing more than 100 roles. 278-6581 or BrunswickLittleTheatre.com

'Fright Night' – Oct. 4-Nov. 2 at TheatreNOW

An encore performance of the dinner theater show by Anthony Lawson that debuted at TheatreNOW last year. "Fright Night" combines some classic spooky legends, some of them with roots in Wilmington, with an original yarn about three college students who decide to spend the night in a seemingly abandoned house, on a dare. 399-3669 or TheatreWilmington.com

'Hal Holbrook: Mark Twain Tonight!' – Oct. 12 at Thalian Hall

A good get for Thalian Hall. Academy Award-nominated, Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Hal Holbrook brings his iconic portrayal of the American author and humorist to town for the hall's Main Attractions series. It's sure to sell out. 632-2285 or www.ThalianHall.org

'Ain't Misbehavin' ' – Oct. 18-27 at the Scottish Rite Temple

City Stage co-presents the Fats Waller revue in conjunction with Joy Gregory's company, True 2 You Productions. Gregory won best supporting actress in a musical at the first two Wilmington Theater Awards. 264-2602 or CityStageNC.com

Marking the 50th anniversary of the novel by Charles Webb, LA Theater Works, a "radio theater" group, brings this production to the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington as part of the UNCW Presents series. With actors, live Foley artists, sets and costumes, the show put a contemporary spin on the story made famous by the 1967 movie starring Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman. 962-3500 or UNCW.edu/presents

'The Rocky Horror Show' – Oct. 31-Nov. 10 at Thalian Hall

After putting on "Rocky" at its home theater several times over the years, and even taking it once to Raleigh, City Stage takes the ultimate cult rock musical to the main stage of Thalian. 264-2602 or CityStageNC.com

'In the Next Room,' or 'The Vibrator Play' – Oct. 31-Nov. 17

Sarah's Ruhl's sex comedy is set in Victorian England, when a new invention for treating "hysteria" in women becomes part of a doctor's therapeutic regimen for his patients, ultimately affecting his entire family. 367-5237 or BigDawgProductions.org

November

'Private Fears in Public Places' – November TBA

UNCW's theater department presents the play by Alan Ayckbourn. The play takes a look at the sometimes bleak nature of modern relationships and is described by the author as "a movie set on stage." Directed by Paul Castagno. 962-2061 or UNCW.edu/thr

'Shakespeare on Trial' – Nov. 20 at Thalian Hall

British-born actor Jeremy Webb brings this comedy back to Thalian for its Main Attractions series. In the one-act show, Shakespeare is charged with being out of date and boring and "of using five sentences when one will do." Some of his own characters testify against him, but while it pokes fun at the Bard, it's the teasing that comes out of love. 632-2285 or ThalianHall.org